Lebanese President Aoun visits Washington, seeks Trump's pressure for Israeli withdrawal

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun wants to ask Donald Trump for support in Washington. Israel and Lebanon rehearse first steps in two "pilot zones."

Publication Date: July 21, 2026 — 3:50 PM

By Julia Neumann, from Beirut

Lebanon's divided opinion on direct talks with Israel is already visible on the main road to the airport in Beirut. When the government announced bilateral peace talks, billboards read "Thank you, loyal Iran" – paid for by the Iran-allied Hezbollah militia. The Interior Ministry had the posters replaced with: "Lebanon First." Hezbollah supporters, in turn, set fire to the new displays. Hezbollah rejects direct talks with Israel – and also the Lebanese government's efforts to disarm the militia.

During this heated political atmosphere, Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun has set off for the USA. He flew to Washington on Saturday to speak with various US representatives. On Tuesday, he meets US President Donald Trump. It is the first visit by a Lebanese head of state to the White House since 2009.

In his luggage, Aoun carries a political demand meant to unite his country: the complete withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from Lebanon. Pressure from Trump himself is meant to help. In a statement released by his office, it was said he would ask Trump "to exert the necessary pressure on Israel."

Israeli soldiers continue to illegally occupy 60 villages and towns in southern Lebanon. Residential buildings, energy supply, and public infrastructure lie in ruins. 700,000 people have been displaced. Those who want to return risk being killed by Israeli soldiers. The army continues to demolish houses. On Tuesday morning, it blew up buildings in Mais al-Jabal and Kfar Tibnit in the Nabatieh region.

Middle East Conflict

After the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military launched an offensive in Gaza, followed in 2024 by the push against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The conflict over the Palestine region began at the start of the 20th century.

➝ More on the Middle East Conflict

Israel Begins Withdrawal from Sawtar al-Gharbia

Also on Tuesday, Israeli soldiers are said to have withdrawn from Sawtar al-Gharbia. Units of the Lebanese army moved in instead. The town lies in one of the so-called pilot zones, where the gradual withdrawal is to be tested. Lebanon's armed forces called on the population not to enter the town yet for their own safety. They must first stabilize the security situation.

However, residents report to dpa that the areas considered pilot zones were not occupied by Israel, but merely subjected to shelling. According to Lebanese security circles, the Israeli army had not established permanent bases in Sawtar al-Gharbia, having entered the area several times but later leaving again.

The withdrawal from two "pilot zones" was decided on June 26 in a bilateral agreement. Lebanon's army is to ensure there that the state has control over the area – and not Hezbollah. The US-brokered plan envisions Lebanon's army disarming the militia. Once that happens, Israel wants to end its incursion into southern Lebanon. The handover of the two "pilot zones" is considered the first test.

Lebanon's President Aoun aims for a complete withdrawal. He wants to present Trump with a written proposal on how his army could secure Hezbollah's weapons arsenal, a Lebanese government official told the Reuters news agency. According to the official, Aoun believes that only Trump has the necessary influence to move Israel to withdraw and to help Lebanon restore its sovereignty – both vis-à-vis Iran and Israel.

The taz is 100 percent owned by its readers.